Superyacht steals the spotlight

PORT KLANG: On most days, the people who go to the Boustead Cruise Centre in Pulau Indah here are those booked on crui­ses to Singapore or Phuket.

But yesterday, the terminal was a hive of activity and all attention was focused on the US$250mil (RM1bil) superyacht Equanimity as Malaysians waited for its “homecoming”.

The impressive Dutch-made superyacht, which purportedly belonged to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, docked at the centre at about 1pm.

A large contingent of media personnel had been waiting at the centre since early mor­ning for the arrival of the vessel. It was spotted in the horizon at about 12.25pm. It took about another 30 minutes before it docked in the bright sunshine.

The media were however only allowed to observe it from about 250m away.

Officers from the Attorney General’s Chambers and the High Court inspected the superyacht for about two hours.

The police top brass were also there at around 6.30pm to discuss security issues and arrangements for the superyacht.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Moha­mad Fuzi Harun however did not want to reveal these arrangements.

“We came here to discuss about the secu­rity issues. The security arrangements are between the authorities, the police and other agencies involved,” he told reporters.

Back home: Crew members of ‘Equanimity’ looking out of the superyacht as it arrived in Port Klang.

Armed police personnel were later stationed at the centre to keep close watch on the vessel.

Shortly after its arrival in Malaysian waters, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad called Indonesian President Joko Widodo to thank him for the handover of the controversial luxury yacht.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said Dr Mahathir spoke to the Indone­sian leader over the phone yesterday afternoon to personally convey his thanks “for the assistance rendered in the handing over of the yacht, Equanimity”.

On Monday, Dr Mahathir said Low could get back the billion-ringgit yacht if he could prove that he had purchased it with his own money.

Meanwhile, embattled former prime mi­­nis­ter Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak described the government’s intention to sell the superyacht a “populist move”.

Najib said it was better for the government to pursue a full settlement with Abu Dhabi’s government-owned International Petroleum Investment Co as this is worth much more.

He said this in response to remarks by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng that the go­­vernment was looking to get the best value from the superyacht.

Najib stressed that he had no know­ledge of the superyacht nor had he been on it.

“The yacht itself could be subject to litigation. It is not clear-cut.

“I have not gone on board and I do not know about it until it came out in the press,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby.

Meanwhile, a probe to determine the ow­ner of Equanimity would likely take between six and nine months, said a lawyer from the government.

The lawyer told news agency Bernama that Equanimity’s maintenance costs was at least RM3mil per month and it was in good condition.